Property Grunt

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Merry Christmas

If you have been under the covers avoiding the storm, just go to this link below and you will find out the clusterf**k this city is experiencing in the aftermath of the storm.

On personal note, I almost got into a physical alteration with a fat bald douchebag who hasn't seen his penis since he was born.

The subway was packed, so there was no way physical contact could be avoided, as I walked on he started pushing me, I pushed back and resulted in a verbal fracas where I owned him. It wasn't a real challenge since the guy was a candidate for gastric bypass surgery.

I smiled to myself when I saw the massive crowd of people waiting on the platform at my stop while the obese douchebag was still on the train.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose

When it comes to Williamsburg, there is no love lost for the Grunt as this past entry will show.

I would never live there, but I would definitely invest there and take advantage the of the hipster population. They are more focused in appearance rather than common sense which makes them ideal consumers but not savers. But I always thought that are would peak in some way and the hipster would be swept by the wayside. Of course the New York Times proves me wrong.

HER studio apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is just shy of 400 square feet, barely enough room for an Ikea open-shelf bookcase, a chocolate-brown tufted couch, a full-size bed and her brindle-coated Shih Tzu, Charlie.

So when Claudia Argiro, 33, gave a holiday party last Saturday night, she pared down her guest list to about two dozen of her closest friends, hid the TV behind an industrial column wrapped with holiday lights and turned the media console into a bar.

But one thing she had to have was a bartender. “I’m an adult now, living by myself, and this is my sh-bam, my moment,” said Ms. Argiro, who runs a clothing boutique nearby called Charlie and Sam.

So basically this is her Bat Mitzvah?

She called up Tealicious, a catering company in Queens, which sent over Eric Villani, a 33-year-old bartender, who was stationed in a two-foot-wide triangle in the middle of the room. For the next four hours, Mr. Villani stood there, not to make special cocktails, but to pour a vodka punch or a rum eggnog into clear plastic cups, trimmed with sugar-coated cherries and cinnamon sticks.

This is not a bartender, this is a server. A bartender does more than pour drinks, they also mix them.

His presence did not go unheralded in the apartment, in a new warehouse conversion along the Brooklyn waterfront, although the intimate cluster of guests could have easily served themselves. “In my opinion, if you don’t have a bartender at your party, you’re a loser,” said Dustin Terry, who lives a floor below Ms. Argiro and said his job was to get models and Saudi royalty into hot clubs. “The bartender brings class and sophistication.”

“If you can’t afford to hire a bartender,” he added, “you shouldn’t be having a party.”

Well, if it means that people like Dustin Terry will never step foot in your home, then by all means never hire a bartender.

That seems to be the consensus of a growing crowd of 30-something New Yorkers who wish to signal they’ve graduated from post-collegiate squalor to young professional coming of age. No matter how small their abodes, they won’t invite friends over for cocktails without the assistance of a bartender — even if there’s barely room for the bartender to stand.

Hired help telegraphs a new maturity and polish, said Marc Levine, who runs Premier Party Servers and Model Bartenders, which cater parties in New York and other cities. “You’re bringing your party to the next level, stepping away from the college kegger,” he said, “and actually entertaining in your New York City apartment.”

Hiring a bartender for a party of this size and space only telegraphs how stupid you are. Of course Marc Levine is going to differ on this because he is in the business of supplying bartenders.

Next level? Yeah the next level of delusion. I have been to a couple of these parties in the past and if people actually consider this a step up from the college kegger, well then we all should stay in school. As far as I am concerned it is the same thing as a kegger except there is no key. A cramped studio apartment is no different than a dorm room.

And there’s a practical consideration. “Hosts don’t want to have to look after their guests’ needs,” said Matt Solan, a bartender who works many such small locations. “But they also want a level of prestige.”

Prestige? Prestige is when you are able to hire a high end catering company to supply you with a bartender, at least 3 stions for food and waiters with champagne and hors d'oeuvres. That's prestige.

Mr. Levine estimates that the number of people calling him to book bartenders for extremely small apartments has gone up 20 percent in the last three years. “With the recession, they don’t want to rent an expensive loft space,” he said. Instead, they are having house parties, he said, and hiring bartenders as a way to splurge within their means.

Mr. Levine is completely correct. This is clearly an indication of the economy. People want to have a lavish party but do not want to pay for it. However, his customers are fooling themselves.

For four to five hours of work, as well as perhaps an hour of prep and cleanup, bartenders charge about $100 to $200. Bartenders can also expect a tip — anywhere from 20 to 100 percent — from the host, not the guests. (Putting out a tip jar, said Lyndsey Hamilton, a New York events planner, is a definite “faux pas.”)

For $200 You could have two parties. Of course it would consist of pizza, beer, soda and snacks. It would not be high end, but it would be fun.

The job may also include helping the host clear tabletops throughout the night, answering the door and hanging up coats. Despite that, Mr. Solan said, “People’s expectations can be somewhat low,” especially when the hosts are young and self-conscious about hiring help. “They’re happy when you just circulate, grabbing garbage,” like dirty cups and cocktail napkins.

Such gigs can also carry minor humiliations that may not be so common at larger, more formal affairs. Mr. Solan once dressed up as a Roman king at a Halloween haunted-house party, where he periodically had to dodge a mechanized ax-murderer mannequin. David Shiovitz, who runs Columbia Bartenders, which sends out Columbia University undergraduates and graduate students, said that, were his bartenders asked, say, to strip or dance, “They have the right to say, ‘That’s not in my contract,’ ” he said.

If I am paying $200 bucks plus covering their tips, I am going to want my ROI. The bartender is going to be doing more than serving drinks but will not be outside of the scope of their work.

There’s also the challenge of making cocktails in a small, crowded space. Mr. Solan recalled a Halloween party with about 25 people in an 18-by-18-foot room. “I was expected to work the room, based out of a little kitchen with a sink I filled with ice,” he said.

Martin Mrowka, who owns Blue Bowtie, a small bartending company, had to work outside once. The West Village one-bedroom was so small that he had to serve drinks from a tiny balcony, under a tent, just in case it rained. (It didn’t.)

In some ways, that claustrophobic feeling is inevitable for bartenders. “Everyone is going to stand within a 10-foot-square radius of the liquor whether it’s a 10,000-square-foot or 200-square-foot apartment,” Mr. Levine said.

Luckily, things never became quite that crowded at Ms. Argiro’s party. Her guests were an arty-chic crowd of D.J.s, stylists and publicists, as well as her brother, Marco, a Bushwick musician, and sister, Daniela. They munched on Ms. Argiro’s homemade panko-crusted chicken bites and jalapeño poppers while dancing to tracks by the Cure, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Gorillaz.

At one point, Mr. Terry raided Ms. Argiro’s private stash of tequila and entreated Mr. Villani to mix shots with fresh lime juice for him. Mr. Villani obliged. “I’m a chameleon,” said Mr. Villani, who has been bartending for 15 years. “I can cater to Donald Trump or somebody in a rock band.”

The person who benefits from this arrangement is the bartender. If they are able to establish a large and loyal clientele, they will always have a job. But it is not easy money but they will be working.

The party cost Ms. Argiro about $600, of which $195 was for Mr. Villani’s services. (Tealicious also supplied bar trimmings and an Italian holiday sponge cake filled with Nutella.) Mr. Villani was also given $80 in tips.

$680? For cake, decorations, bar stuff and the bartender? she would have been better off putting that into a money market account. Or putting it away for an event that truly announces one's place in adulthood. A wedding.

For Ms. Argiro, it was worth every penny. The bartender added what she called a chic, “Mad Men” vibe to the party. In fact, she said she’d just seen the movie, “A Single Man,” set in the mid-1960s, and had chosen her party dress — a floaty, sleeveless black silk and chiffon minidress — to channel Julianne Moore in that film.

Another guest, Eric Carson, 32, a stock trader who lives in nearby Greenpoint, agreed that the bartender added class. “I feel very sophisticated at this party,” he said. “And I usually feel like a complete dirt bag.”

Of course you don't feel like a dirt bag. You did not pay for this.

I have been to a variety of social occasions ranging from hole in the wall bars to high end hotels. What I have learned is that when you go big, go big. Don't bother creating the illusion of luxury because it is not going to work and you will be wasting your money. the besy way to sum up this article is putting lipstick on a pig.

Reading about these "trends" drives me up the wall. First of all it is an attempt to instill this mentality into the social consciousness of New Yorkers which is already messed up enough as it is. It also creates insecurity and hostility amongst those who do not have the means to have such luxury. Correction, illusions of luxury.

That's what New York City is all about. Whether it is true or false, creating the appearance of being a metropolitan. The only people who benefit from this arrangement are those who supply the accouterments for creating the illusion.

The fact that Claudia is part of the Williamsburg herd shows how viable that area is. A residential base that is more focused on consumption rather than saving or investing is highly attractive to real estate investor because businesses will fight tooth and to tap in this market. And if there is a constant stream of these individuals, it makes the property all the more valuable.

It has been awhile since my first Williamsburg party and I always though this demographic would fade away. Apparently a fresh crop as taken their place who share the same values.

Scarsdale: Suicide is not the Solution Part III

It appears that Scarsdale is taking the initiative in dealing with the past events. Below is an email that was sent out to the community. Parts of the email have replaced with ****** for privacy reasons.

Scarsdale mental health professionals, clergy and civic leaders will provide leadership and facilitate discussion. The meetings will focus on ways we can support each other and the community. In addition, resources and information on suicide, including a discussion about how to talk to children of all ages, will be presented.

To attend, please RSVP by clicking on the following link, or by calling Scarsdale Family Counseling Service at ********.

http*****************************

I have also attached a file with a link in it if you can't click on the one above. Please feel free to circulate this to your friends and neighbors.

Thanks for your support,

**********

Below is test of the RSVP itself. Edited for privacy.

1:00**********; 7:00***********, 8:30 *********

1. Yes, I want to attend one of the Scarsdale Community Meetings on 12/15/10. My FIRST CHOICE time slot is...*Select at least 1 response and no more than 1 response. 1:00 pm 7:00 pm 8:30 pm

2. Yes, I want to attend one of the Scarsdale Community Meetings on 12/15/10. My SECOND CHOICE time slot is...*Answer "None of the Above" if you have no second choice Select at least 1 response and no more than 1 response. 1:00 pm 7:00 pm 8:30 pm None of the above

3. Yes, I want to attend one of the Scarsdale Community Meetings on 12/15/10. My THIRD CHOICE time slot is...*Answer "None of the Above" if you have no third choice Select at least 1 response and no more than 1 response. 1:00 pm 7:00 pm 8:30 pm None of the above

4. How many will be attending?*Select at least 1 response and no more than 1 response. 1 2 3 4

Usually when the community groups reach out to the people, it is because of taxes, school issues or property values. Mental and emotional health issues are left in private so everyone is left to fend for themselves. So for these organizations to take this step just goes to show how completely freaked out people are.

As I have stated before, Scarsdale is not paradise. It brings its own set of obligations that can be quite traumatic if people are unable to fulfill them. It seems only now that the residents are beginning to understand the gravity of where they live.

Monday, December 06, 2010

Scarsdale: Suicide is not the Solution Part II

The death of Mr. Steel, who, with a classmate, wrote one of Harvard’s fight songs, and who lived in Scarsdale for eight years before his death on May 12, 1927, did not occasion much sociology — mostly sadness, puzzlement, and concern for his three children.

In some ways, there’s a similar dynamic at work now, after four apparent suicides in two months reverberated through New York City’s most famous suburb, with its seductive Tudor village and its easily caricatured culture of strivers and hyperachievers.

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Suicide: It is not a solution

It is not painless for those left behind.

Suicide is something that should not be taken lightly. If you or someone you love is at the brink, seek help immediately. My condolences for the families of the victims that are mentioned in this entry.

Scarsdale is no different than any other in town in that it has stress points. When those points are attacked, there is no telling how people will react. Sometimes it leads to decisions where people decide to opt out permanently.

The funeral service for Corinne "Corie" Vidal will take place this Tuesday, 10 a.m., at the Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown.

Vidal was an assistant at Scarsdale High School and was a long-time resident of Tarrytown since her birth in 1969. She died on Thursday, Oct. 21, after committing suicide.

She is survived by her parents Antonio and Irene Vidal of Tarrytown; her older sister and brother-in-law Christina and Paul Clarke of Sleepy Hollow and her younger sister and brother-in-law Carla and Kevin Sapienza of Cortlandt Manor. She is also survived by her son Albert "Ryan" Rivero.

In an obituary, Vidal was described as always loving her job and her students, and always "tried to listen and brighten up someone's day even if it was just with a smile."

Scarsdale High School is offering counselling services to students who may need to speak about the matter. Visitation for Vidal will continue on Monday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Coffey Funeral Home in Tarrytown.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to charity.

A mother’s suicide on Tuesday has left Scarsdale searching for answers as to why four people in the community have taken their own lives (one unconfirmed) in the past seven weeks. The mother of two jumped from the Tappan Zee Bridge, leaving grief-stricken children, parents, friends and neighbors seeking to explain the inexplicable.

Lynne Spencer was a former school psychologist and the mother of a fourth grader at Heathcote Elementary School and a sophomore at Scarsdale High School. According to the Journal News Spencer drove her Toyota Highlander onto the bridge around noon on Tuesday, got out, and jumped 150 feet into the Hudson River. Miraculously a construction crew that was under the bridge to sandblast one of the piers saw her fall about 50 feet in front of them. Three men from the crew jumped into a boat and pulled Spencer out of the water where she was floating face down.

In terms of media coverage, this particular suicide was given special dispensation.http://fwix.com/westchester/article/194668ed19/long-time_tarrytown_resident_scarsdale_schools_employee_to_be_buried_tuesday

An attempt at the third suicide in our area in the last week was made early Sunday morning in Scarsdale Village while children were painting Halloween windows outside. Whether the impetus for the suicides was the economy, the change in seasons or personal demons is anyone's guess. At 10 am on Sunday October 23rd local police learned that a Scarsdale man had called a suicide hotline, and they were able to track the call to Scarsdale Village. Police rushed to Scarsdale Wrapping and Shipping on Harwood Court and forced their way into the locked store. In the basement they found storeowner David Emmer, who had attempted to take his own life. Police and emergency workers responded and reported that he was still alive. The Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps transported Emmer to the emergency room at White Plains Hospital and his condition is unknown. Emmer, aged 49, is a well-liked retailer in Scarsdale Village who has been in town for as long as anyone can remember. He is 49 years old, and married with two children. Emmer's attempt follows the purported suicide of Thomas J. Hill in Hartsdale on October 19th and the death of Corie Vidal, a favorite member of the SHS staff who took her own life on October 21st. A sign on the door of the Scarsdale Shipping Center on Harwood Court says Closed Until Further Notice.

An attempt at the third suicide in our area in the last week was made early Sunday morning in Scarsdale Village while children were painting Halloween windows outside. Whether the impetus for the suicides was the economy, the change in seasons or personal demons is anyone’s guess.

At 10 am on Sunday October 23rd local police learned that a Scarsdale man had called a suicide hotline, and they were able to track the call to Scarsdale Village. Police rushed to a village store and forced their way into the locked store.

In the basement they found the storeowner who had attempted to take his own life. Police and emergency workers responded and reported that he was still alive. The Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps transported the man to the emergency room at White Plains Hospital and his condition is unknown.

The victim is a well-liked retailer in Scarsdale Village who has been in town for as long as anyone can remember. His attempt follows the purported suicide of Thomas J. Hill in Hartsdale on October 19th and the death of Corie Vidal, a favorite member of the SHS staff who took her own life on October 21st.

Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, the victim's name, which appeared in the original report, has been removed.

The funeral was held today at the Jewish Family Congregation, with burial at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla.

Donations may be made to a college scholarship fund for Mr. Emmer’s two sons, Andrew and Matthew: Andrew and Matthew Emmer College Trust Fund, c/o Richard M. Cohlan, Trustee, 199 Main Street, Suite 500, White Plains, NY 10601.

If you do a google search under this person's name along with suicide, the results will include "attempt".

Unless you read the previous report, you would never be able to connect the dots to in determining the cause of his passing. Probably the only way to verify the facts is to do a series of FOIA requests and examining public records.

It appears that the local media have no problem reporting the identity of the other individuals. Why did they do that in this particular situation? Because this incident took place in the Village during on their most popular event. Better to make things as vague as possible for the sake of appearances.

There is a certain cachet associated with Scarsdale. Excellent schools, snobbery, high property values and spoiled rich kids.

When you first move to Scarsdale, you have not made it. You have just begun to fight to establish yourself in the social order. And the fight will seem eternal, or at least until your kids graduate from high school.

In other words Scarsdale is the Manhattan of Westchester County. Like, Manhattan, it requires a lot of money to live there. And God help you if you don't have it.

Was money the reason behind these suicides? I don't know. There were probably other variables that will be only be known to the parties involved. What I do know is that the current state of economy has had a negative impact on all of our lives. Even on a place like Scarsdale. In fact Scarsdale might be one of the places hit the hardest.

Another Update

I have not forgotten about this blog. It has just been extremely busy for me which is why I have been absent. In the near future I will be doing a series of entries on one of our favorite suburbs. More on that later